~OS Corner~ :) - Page 2

He groped blindly for the clock as the alarm set off and the moment he had his hands on it, he threw it away as it noisily struck the hard marbled ground. Shortly after he broke the alarm clock, his phone started ringing. He ignored it and ducked his face inside the spread. After sometime it stopped ringing. Just when he relaxed in sleep, it started ringing again. He ignored it again as he covered his face with the pillow.

Agitated, he answered the phone call "whoever it is better have a good reason to call"

"Oh . . . so now I need a reason to talk with my grandson" Savitri Devi replied.

"Good morning Dadi maa" Maan said as he stifled a yawn.

"Why are you still in bed" Savitri Devi asked, but before Maan could answer her she continued "I don't have time for all this. I wanted to remind you about the party tomorrow, I'd like you to be in India by tomorrow evening"

"Dadi maa you really think I will travel overseas just to attend a so called party" Maan asked.

"It's is not just a so called party, it's your sisters engagement party" Savitri Devi answered.

"Correction, 10^th engagement party" Maan replied.

"She is your sister Maan" Savitri Devi cajoled.

"dadi ma please, even if I miss this engagement party I can attend the next one, it's not like she is getting engaged for the last time" Maan said as he made his way across the room towards his study.

"So you aren't coming" Savitri Devi sighed.

"No" Maan smiled as he lifted his laptop and started checking his mails.

"Fine then I will tell Geet not to wait for you" Savitri Devi replied with a smirk. She knew she had an edge then.

"She is coming" Maan snapped almost immediately.

"Yes she is but how does it matter to you, you won't be coming anyway" Savitri Devi teased.

"When is she coming" Maan asked with his impatience quite evident in his tone.

"Tomorrow evening, before the party" Savitri Devi replied.

"I'll be there in a jiffy" Maan said as he rushed to his room.

"But you were not interested just moments ago" Savitri replied as she tried hard not to break into a laughter listening to his frantic movements.

"Now I am" Maan said as he opened his cupboard.

"Maan you don't have to come, it's all right. I'll tell Annie. I am sure she wouldn't mind like you said it's not her last engagement party, many more are to come" Savitri Devi said maintain a straight voice.

"No dadi maa, she is my sister, so what if she changes fianc's every two months, I have to be there at her engagement. I am her eldest brother it's my duty" Maan tried reasoning though even he knew Savitri Devi was making fun of his impatience.

"Beta ji, seethe seethe kyun nahi bolte Geet se milna hai" Savitri Devi replied as she smiled.

"I'll be there tomorrow" Maan said as he literally stuffed his clothes into the suitcase.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Maan's excitement knew no bounds as he stepped out of the terminal and looked around to spot his car. It was the first time he was going to meet her in person.

His marriage with Geet had been fixed by their respective families at the time Geet was born. Though he wasn't aware of this until last summer when Savitri Devi asked him to meet her. Initially he ridiculed the idea of marrying a girl he has never met just because of some long gone promise. But on Savitri Devi's insistence he agreed to meet her once. That day, he waited for her at the cafe for more than an hour and she never showed up. He was darn irritated and vowed never to meet her again. When he came back home after having waited there impatiently, his cell phone beeped. He read the message and a smile traced his lips.

"Sorry for making you wait there. It's just that I don't think meeting you is a good idea. For the matter I don't think this alliance is a good idea but I promised my mother I would consider it, so I will. Before we meet in person I'd like to make sure whether I want to meet you. I'd prefer knowing you first coz I do not want my decision to be affected by your looks as from all I hear you're devastatingly handsome. And I am sure you wouldn't want your future could be/would be wife to choose you merely out of attraction. So . . . it's like this. . . we will chat with each other via email, I have written my ID at the end of the message, send me a friend request I'll add you but yes do not forget to mention it's you otherwise I won't add you as I do not add random people in my friends list. So moving on. . . if after a few email sessions I feel I'd like to meet you then I'll let you know. . . so if you're up for it than I am online right now. . . Geet"

It has been a year since their first interaction.

He wanted to see her badly, he was kind of falling for her or in all honesty he was already in love with her. This idea of falling for someone you haven't even met once sounded absurd to him but it happened anyway. Even the difference of 12 hours in the time zone had no effect on their endless chatting sessions. His morning began by sending her mails and her night ended with reading his mails. Even after him pleading her every single day she just wasn't ready to meet him. He tried talking dadi maa into sending him her photograph but seemingly she had Savitri Devi on her side.

Finally, after one whole year she decided to meet him. He wanted to see her, he knew he will fall flat the moment their eyes meet; he just knew it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The party was in full swing by the time he entered the mansion. He stepped inside just as Annie came rushing towards him and engulfed him in a bear hug. She did not let him utter a single word as she pulled him by the hand and led him to his room. She asked him to wait while she went to get his mask. He puckered his forehead as he looked at the mask and asked her "what is this for"

"Theme of the party" Annie said with a wide grin.

"Engagement party's have such themes also" Maan was not at all up for this theme but he knew whose idea it could possibly be. He wondered did he really think she would be that easy on him. Didn't he know otherwise?

What irritated him more was the fact that she had seen him that day. She did come to the coffee shop but she did not meet him as she had seen the reluctance in his eyes. She did not want to force him into anything. Of course he didn't know about it until accidently she spilled the beans while one of their chatting sessions. And since then he had been even more impatient to meet her knowing that he was the one who was dying for a single glimpse whereas she wasn't. Even during their webcam chats only his webcam would be available as she wasn't ready to activate hers.

"Cut the crap and get ready" Annie replied as she handed him the mask and left.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Maan gulped another drink as his eyes were glued towards the entrance. Whenever a girl entered his heart beat stopped but as soon as he looked them in their eyes a certain unknown force told him it wasn't her.

And then--

He turned to go towards his room, if she wasn't coming; there was no point for him to stay in the party. He was about to leave the hall when a sweet voice called out "may I have the next dance"

He turned around and came face to face with a lady dressed in ornate stone studded white off shoulder gown. Only her eyes were visible through the mask and they were casting a spell on him.

He felt a strange pleasing sensation take toll of him as she looked him in the eye. He was enchanted, looking at her beautiful amber eyes. Had he not known better he would have undoubtedly mistaken her to be Geet but she had told him her eye colour was hazel and hence this young lady couldn't possibly be her. Still he could not reject the offer, it was way too tempting. He obliged as he extended his hand sideways gesturing her to hold it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Even though her face was hidden behind the mask, she looked ravishingly hot. He cursed himself for even thinking on those lines. How could he. He was in love with Geet. He knew that but he couldn't deny the strange connection he felt with this lady in white.

The lights went dim as slow melody filled the air around.

He walked her towards the heart of the dance floor, all the while maintaining eye contact. He guided her hand to his shoulder while he rested his on her waist and entangled the other hands together. They swayed swiftly with the music.

She tiptoed and whispered in his ear "It seems you were not enjoying the party"

"No its nothing like that, I was just waiting for someone" Maan replied as he swayed with her ever so gently.

"And she didn't show up" she said as they moved in synchronisation.

"How do you know it's 'she" he asked as he moved closer to her ear.

She chuckled as she replied "You don't seem the gay types"

He spun her around as she landed on his chest. He whispered in her ear "I like your perfume"

"That was forward . . . wouldn't your girl mind you saying this" she replied as she felt something rip inside her.

"She doesn't need to know" Maan answered huskily in her ear.

"Cheating on her" she replied as she tried to hide her disappointment in his response.

"No . . . this is not cheating, its time pass flirting" Maan said he brought both his hands around her stomach and moved swiftly with the music.

"What if she finds out" she turned to face him as she wanted to read those eyes.

"She won't" Maan replied with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

She wanted to stomp his foot for that reply but she maintained her composure as she tried yet again "still . . . consider she finds out, what will you do"

"She wouldn't mind" Maan replied promptly.

"How can you say that" she was curious to know why she wouldn't mind. She sure as hell would not only be offended by this act of his but she would also teach him an all time lesson which would be locking him in a cabin filled with tiny-tiny fire ants though only for a minute; whatever it be she wouldn't see him in pain longer than a few moments.

"Why are we talking about her when she is not even here . . . tell me about you" Maan said as he smiled.

She felt something burn inside her at his reply but she played along "what do wanna know"

"Anything"

"Well . . . what anything" she asked.

"Your name" Maan replied but he wondered did he really need to know her name.

"I wouldn't want to disclose it yet" she said rather calmly.

"Ok . . . your favourite colour" Maan asked.

"Guess"

"White" he answered.

Hearing his reply, she knew she had lost the game long time back but she still toyed with him "wow . . . next time I will not wear my favourite colour to parties"

"What makes you think it was dress, that I guessed white" Maan asked her.

"Then how" she said as she put both her arms around his neck.

"My instincts" Maan said as he placed both of his hands around her waist locking them behind her.

"Let's say you got lucky . . . let's try another question . . . my favourite ice cream" she knew he would know the answer yet she wanted to continue this game a bit longer. What if he answers incorrectly and the previous one was actually a guess.

"Chocolate"

"Ok . . . another lucky guess . . . uh . . . my favourite Indian singer" she asked again, this time if he knew the answer her assumption that she had been caught would turn out true.

"You don't have a favourite in particular . . . you like them all" Maan answered as he winked, even he was aware that now she knew he was toying.

She was done playing; it was time for a real statement "the man of my life"

"He is holding you in his arms at the moment" Maan said as he pulled her into him and tightened his grip around her waist.

"You knew it was me from the very beginning . . . didn't you" Geet tightened her hold around his neck as she willingly moved closer to him.

"how can I not know . . . the moment you stepped on the dance floor and the song that played was one of your favourites, the spark in your eyes disclosed your identity and then the jealousy, disappointment, anger in your voice let the cat out of the bag . . . is there any way you wanted to stomp my foot, trust me at one particular moment I was scared you would do something like that" Maan replied as they danced almost hugging each other.

"Good observation" Geet gave him credit. She wondered did she actually think he wouldn't recognise her. Didn't she know otherwise?

'thank you . . . now can you please take off this mask and those lenses . . . I'd like to see my reflection in your eyes" Maan replied desperately wanting to see her face.

"What if I say I do not wish to take off the mask?"

There she went again, he frowned. She won't give up that easily but even he was Maan Singh Khurana and he would see her face, no matter what. But he wanted to keep the attitude out for some time, he was also aware he may be the boss for everyone but she was his boss. So he did something he would never do for anyone but this was his Geet, there was nothing, whatsoever, he wouldn't do for Geet "then I will fall at your feet and beg for you to let me see your angelic face"

Geet smiled and said "angelic . . . are you trying to impress me"

"I guess I am" Maan winked at her.

She moved closer to his ear and whispered "do you need to . . . just for the record I am already smitten"

How he wanted to feel her breath on his skin when she came closer to him but her damned mask.

Before he himself knew his right hand started moving down her back . . . lower . . . and lower but before it could reach any further she pinched his shoulder with her hands still wrapped around his neck.

He flinched in pain "oww . . . what was that for"

"Your hand was wondering in forbidden places . . . it needed a check" she smirked behind the mask.

"Forbidden for others not for--

Geet pushed him as she ran from there. She chuckled as she ran out of the party and towards the outhouse. Maan followed her with a wide grin. He chased her across the hall as the air around him echoed with her melodious laughter. She ran up the stairs as he followed her. She entered one of the rooms and tried locking the door behind hr but he was quick enough to corner her. He pushed her against the wall as he shut the door with his feet. He held her wrists and pinned them by her side as he moved closer to her.

"Remove the mask" Maan said huskily.

"Leave my hands I will remove it" she tried tricking him.

"Trying to trick me" Maan replied as he looked at her with such intense passion that she felt her resolve of not letting him see her so easily was weakening

"Can anyone ever trick Maan Singh Khurana" she replied.

He left one of her hands as he said "first your lenses". She lifted removed her lenses one by one with her free hand and he threw them on the ground snatching them from her grip. He looked at those hazel eyes and he was under her spell. She lifted her hand to his cheek and the moment her hand came in contact with his subtle, he was senseless. His grip on her other hand loosened as he felt her soft skin against his face. She took advantage of the situation and pushed him away. She ran out of the room as he realised what actually happened. As sanity came back to him, he rushed behind her but she was nowhere to be seen. He searched the entire out house but she was not there. He went outside as he heard the sound of her anklets. He smiled when he saw her twirling around bare feet in the garden. She looked angelic, that was it; he had to see her face. He went towards her as she tried running away but he pulled her into him with a jerk. It was so sudden that she fell on him and he on the grass. She tried getting off him but he rolled over and now he was on top of her. He pinned her hands on either side of her face. She couldn't look into those intense eyes and on am impulse she closed her eyes real tight. He moved his face towards her ear and whispered "open your eyes Geet . . . I am dying to see myself in them"

Geet kept her eyes shut as she shook her head. She wasn't going to open them that easily, he knew it. But at that moment seeing her eyes shut, feeling her shiver under him, sensing her nervousness; he wanted to see her face. He moved closer to her hair as he pried open the strings of the mask with his teeth. She gasped; she did not see that coming. She bit her lower lip as she suppressed her smile. She wasn't scared but she was nervous . . . nervous about his reaction once he sees her face. She felt the mask slide down her cheek as his breath fell on her face. Her breathing became alarmingly high; her heart was thudding erotically in synchronisation with his. As he saw her face, his breathing constricted in his chest; she was just like he imagined' angelic . . . his angel, sent by god just for him. He moved even closer till their foreheads touched "open your eyes . . . please"

She couldn't refuse that pleading voice. She gulped in nervousness as she opened her eyes ever so slowly that he felt he had been waiting for decades for them to open for him. Time stood still, sparks flew, and invisible fireworks exploded . . . their eyes met. She felt butterflies somersaulting in her stomach, his touch, his eyes, that gaze, everything spoke unconditional, pure, true love . . . for her. He felt his heart explode in happiness, her touch, her eyes, her gaze; everything spoke unconditional, pure, true love . . . for him.

He freed her one hand from his grip as he brought his hand to her cheek and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. He moved his lips close to hers and anticipating his next move she closed her eyes as she brought her hand towards his arm and slid it up to his shoulder. She smiled an invisible smile waiting anxiously for him to close the distance left between their lips. But moments later she felt the wait lift off her and as she opened her eyes, she saw him standing next to where she lay. He extended his hand forward and she held it as she got on her feet. She couldn't meet his gaze; her shyness was taking over her. She felt something cold, soft touch the back of her hand . . . his lips. He kissed her hand as he got on one knee, looked in her eyes and she knew. Their eyes whispered what their hearts felt and there was no room for words as they would never suffice to explain the depth of their feelings. He took out a tiny little red heart shaped box, opened it and pulled the ring out off the socket. He did not say anything, she did not need words, and his eyes did all the talking as he slid the ring in her ring finger. He brought her hand to his mouth as he kissed the ring. He turned her hand as he kissed her palm and each of her finger tips.

She had tears in her eyes . . . tears of happiness. She smiled as he got on his feet and moved closer to her. His hand left hers as it travelled to her back pulling her towards him. They were so close, so close that even a ray of light had no scope of passing through them. He moved his face on the side of her ear as he whispered "you won't ask me how I had the ring with me already"

She shook her head "no I will not ask you . . . but you will me"

"you see, I couldn't risk it . . . tumahara kya bharosa, chera dihane main ek saal laga diya pata chale aaj ke baad engagement mein ek saal laga dho, I am not willing to waste another year" he replied.

"I have been waiting for this one moment for quite some time now . . . I don't have it in me to wait any longer" he said as his eyed her lips.

He moved his lips closer to hers as she closed her eyes. They could feel each other's breath on their lips, they could feel the tension in air, they could feel their nervousness . . . they could feel their love. Her hands moved to his shoulders and he protectively, possessively wrapped one hand around her waist and the other cupped her face.

And then--

Just when they were about to--

Geet heard Anwesha calling her name and Geet pushed Maan away as she ran inside and showed him a thumbs down "turns out you will have to wait longer"

And he followed her with a smile. He would make sure he got what he wanted from her . . . there was no spotting him that day.

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